• WATCH D.O.G.S.

  • WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is an innovative program of the National Center for Fathering focusing on prevention of violence in our nation's schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures for a two-fold purpose:

    • to provide an unobtrusive presence in the schools
    • to be a positive and active role-model for students at their school

    Program Goal
    To help every school in America be positively influenced by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in lives of their children and students.

    How WATCH D.O.G.S. Works
    Dooley invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their child’s/student's school during the school year. Individuals sign up by contacting Christopher Martin at any time throughout the school year.

    WatchDOGS volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their day. Volunteers must commit to either a full day on campus (7:15 AM to 3:15 PM) or a half day (7:15 AM to 11:15 AM or 11:15 AM to 3:15 PM). Duties will include assisting loading and unloading cars before and after school, cafeteria and recess duty, and assisting teachers and students as needed (working with small groups on classwork, reading, practicing flash cards, playing educational games, etc.). Volunteers and their student(s) also may be recognized on the televised morning announcements, and share their education and career background to encourage students!

    Download a Dooley WatchDOGS registration form.

    To be eligible for WATCH DOGS, you MUST have a current volunteer application and background check on file with the district.

    Volunteer Application

    Dooley contact: Sara McCutchen

    After submitting a Plano ISD volunteer application, call (469-752-1111) or email (sara.mccutchen@pisd.edu) Mrs.McCutchen to request a day to volunteer.

    How will you support education and safety at Dooley?
    • Wear the official t-shirt or vest only at school while performing official WatchDOG duties.
    • Encourage students with lots of smiles, high fives, etc.
    • Help with traffic flow of vehicles and students at arrival and dismissal times
    • Monitor hallways and entrances
    • Assist at lunch & recess
    • Read with classes or tutor small groups of students
    • Actively and positively engage with your student and others
    • Speak to classes about the importance of education and career choices
    • Be available to mentor students
    • Smile and be a hero for a day!

    WATCH D.O.G volunteers should NOT:

    • Enter student restrooms
    • Be alone or unsupervised with students
    • Espouse political or religious beliefs to students
    • Sell or give their official WatchDOGS t-shirt to someone who is not an approved volunteer 
    • Wear the official WatchDOGS t-shirt anywhere except at school 
    • Engage in any conduct that brings disrespect to himself or his student(s), the school, the WatchDOGS program, or other volunteering fathers.
    History of WATCH D.O.G.S.

    WATCH D.O.G.S.® is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR. Moore wanted to help prevent violence from occurring at his children’s school or at any school. The first program was launched at George Elementary in Springdale, AR, the school of Moore’s oldest child. Today, more than 1,500 programs in 36 states and New Zealand participate in WATCH D.O.G.S.

  • Watch DOGS logo